Cape Flyer

Here is a short video I took of tonights flyer. Passenger count was 135 out of Hyannis with an additional 12 passengers added at Buzzards Bay.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Sw5tq ... e=youtu.be

Dick H wrote:On the NECN "This Week in Business" today (6/29), one of the topics
was the tourism business on Cape Cod. While the Cape Flyer was
shown, the Chair of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce noted that
it is a 2 1/2 - 3 hour trip. She also predicted there will be a new
toll bridge over the Cape Cod Canal in the next five to seven years.
The segment is available at this URL:
http://www.necn.com/06/29/14/TWIB-Summe ... edID=11128" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Toll bridge leading to the same overcrowded Routes 3, 6, and 28?

Nothankyouverymuch

Where are they getting 2.5-3 hours from? its 2 hours and 18 minutes.

Just a sloppy estimate. In her position she should have been better informed and more enthusiastic about the Flyer. She certainly supported (promoted) the new air service.

Rbts Stn wrote:Toll bridge leading to the same overcrowded Routes 3, 6, and 28?

Nothankyouverymuch

That's what people forget about when they sell the bridge. I'm not paying $X to fly across a bridge and then hit another bottleneck in Sandwich. The roads on the other side of the canal aren't getting widened anytime soon.

Back to rail... the service was not promoted adequately this year. There was little notice of when the trains would start, delays of getting the schedule out there, talk of changing the schedule for a Cape-only run that never happened, etc. With a service as young as the Flyer, reliability is paramount. Agencies couldn't get their stories straight before the season, and that in turn may have led to confusion among the non-railfan segment of the population that would actually ride the train.

And that estimate also w/o consideration
for the legal battles sure to ensue regarding
all the high end real estate that's been built
on both sides of The Canal......

railfanner01 wrote:Where are they getting 2.5-3 hours from? its 2 hours and 18 minutes.

I could be a lot less if the train doesn't have to make stops between Boston and Middleboro, and if the state would replace worn out rails on the Cape and raise the speeds.

Agreed..but track upgrade on this side
not likely in this decade....

That is what is know as a big "IF".

Just to let people know, the Flyer will be operating on Thursday on a Friday schedule, and Friday through Sunday on a Saturday/Sunday schedule. Extra coaches are to be added for the big weekend.

The ViRoCo wrote:Extra coaches are to be added for the big weekend.

Is that because of advanced ticket sales, or optimism?

Regarding the proposed third bridge with tolls, I agree that it would be a boondoggle.
The bridge itself would do nothing for the congestion on both sides of the canal.
In addition, no one would use the toll bridge during off peak periods, with the
result that the tolls would never be enough to pay off the bonds, along with
maintenance, etc. You could upgrade the rail line from the Canal Jct to Hyannis
to 59 MPH for probably half what the engineering on the toll bridge would cost..

The ViRoCo wrote:Just to let people know, the Flyer will be operating on Thursday on a Friday schedule, and Friday through Sunday on a Saturday/Sunday schedule. Extra coaches are to be added for the big weekend.

Actually, the current consist is maxed out at 8 cars (6 double-deckers & 2 single level) and one engine, so it will most likely be used again over the 4 day weekend. The thinking is that since the 4th is on a Friday, ridership should be at last year's level. Fingers crossed.

Count for June 29th:
49 & 6 bikes out of Boston including 4 on at Wareham
120 out of Hyannis with 2 on and 2 off at Wareham. 8 bikes from Hyannis.

D

Dick H wrote:Regarding the proposed third bridge with tolls, I agree that it would be a boondoggle.
The bridge itself would do nothing for the congestion on both sides of the canal.
In addition, no one would use the toll bridge during off peak periods, with the
result that the tolls would never be enough to pay off the bonds, along with
maintenance, etc. You could upgrade the rail line from the Canal Jct to Hyannis
to 59 MPH for probably half what the engineering on the toll bridge would cost..

Maybe if they have the bridge not hit the Cape until Brewster?